A growing number of parents are adding pediatric chiropractic care as an integrative component of their children's health care regimen.

Survey data indicates that the percentage of chiropractic patients under 17 years of age has increased at least 8.5 percent since 1991, says the American Chiropractic Association. Further, a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study indicated that nearly 3 percent of children in the United States were treated with chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation in 2007, making it the most common form of doctor-directed complementary or alternative medicine used by children.

According to Elise Hewitt, DC, a Portland-area doctor of chiropractic and president of the American Chiropractic Association's Pediatrics Council, chiropractic care isn't just for adults. Infants and children can benefit from spinal manipulation and other forms of chiropractic care just as much as their parents and grandparents.

"It's very important that a child have both a pediatrician and a pediatric chiropractor. A pediatric chiropractor is not there to replace the role of the pediatrician," says Dr. Hewitt. "The pediatrician provides medications when necessary and delivers care in times of serious illness and injury. A pediatric chiropractor is there for preventative wellness care and maintenance of the child's structure. The two are very complementary."

Studies are beginning to show that chiropractic can help children not only with typical back and neck pain complaints, but also with issues as varied as asthma, chronic ear infections, nursing difficulties, colic and bedwetting.

Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle. Doctors of chiropractic - commonly referred to as chiropractors - practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Following their undergraduate education, doctors of chiropractic obtain a four-year degree consisting of more than 4,500 hours of study and clinical experience. Pediatric specialists receive additional post-doctorate training.

"The vast majority of parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and look forward to subsequent visits. They also report that their children experience a greater level of health while under regular chiropractic care,” Dr. Hewitt notes.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is the nation's leading chiropractic organization representing more than 15,000 doctors of chiropractic and their patients. To find a chiropractor near you, visit the ACA's searchable member database at www.acatoday.org/DocSearch.

A recent review of research was performed to identify the effectiveness of various treatments for the relief of Myofascial pain syndrome and myofascial trigger points. Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic form of muscle pain characterized by sensitive points in the muscles called myofascial trigger points. These trigger points in the muscles can be painful when touched and the pain can spread throughout the affected muscle as well as radiate down the extremities. In this study, 112 articles were found matching the study's criteria and were reviewed. After evaluating these studies, researchers stated, "Moderately strong evidence supports manipulation and ischemic pressure for immediate pain relief at myofascial trigger points…". Manipulation is the primary treatment provided by chiropractors. Ischemic pressure another common technique utilized by chiropractors that involves applying manual, direct pressure to the trigger points to ultimately provide pain relief and reduction of trigger points. If you or another is suffering from sensitive areas in the muscles and/or you believe you could be suffering from myofascial pain syndrome, please contact our office today for a professional and caring consultation.

A new study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism found chondroitin sulfate successful at reducing pain as well as reducing cartilage loss in the knee for subjects suffering from knee arthritis. Of the 622 subjects aged 45 to 80 years, the average subject was suffering from moderate knee pain due to arthritis. For a period of 2 years, subjects received either prescription-grade chondroitin sulfate or a placebo. Those receiving the chondroitin sulfate as compared with the placebo experienced notable pain relief as well as a 33 percent reduction in the likelihood of experiencing joint narrowing in the knee. While these findings are extremely promising for those suffering from arthritis of the knee and perhaps with arthritis of other joints, it should be noted that subjects were taking prescription-grade chondroitin sulfate and thus, results cannot necessarily be generalized to those chondroitin sulfate products currently being sold as dietary supplements. However, it does appear that the correct chondroitin sulfate can have beneficial effects in those suffering from various forms of arthritis.

According to researchers at the National Public Health Institute, those suffering from sleep quality issues are more likely to become dissatisfied with life as they grow older. It appears that lack of adequate sleep or adequate quality of sleep experience a significantly higher rate of dissatisfaction with life as they age. Also, it doesn't appear that those who become dissatisfied with life as they age have a similar correlation to sleep quality. While more research is needed, it's important to realize how essential it is to consistently give your body the rest it needs and strive to obtain sufficient amounts of quality rest and sleep.